'We Need To Be Clinical'

8 March 2013

Ben Mouncer

Snodgrass looking for ruthlessness against Saints

ROBERT Snodgrass says he and his Norwich City team-mates have what it takes to compete week-in, week-out in the Barclays Premier League… yet is hoping they can add a more ‘clinical’ edge, starting on Saturday afternoon against Southampton.

Manager Chris Hughton called for his side to be more ruthless after a run of games that has seen the Canaries draw blanks in five on their last seven league matches, and Snodgrass believes that equates to simply scoring more goals.

“What he means is to put the ball in the back of the net. In terms of being more aggressive, there are different ways of looking at it, but I think it is the only thing that is lacking for us this season,” said the Scotland international winger.

“We’ve put in some great performances but we’ve just not scored enough goals. We’ve created chances but we just need to be more clinical.

“Every game is a battle. You don’t go out there in the Premier League and get an easy game ever. You need to fight and scrap in every game to do as well as you can.”

Snodgrass himself did manage to net in the reverse fixture between the two sides back in November, a free-kick that sneaked in after Saints ‘keeper Paulo Gazzaniga failed to grasp the ball, yet emphasises the final result has more importance than any personal achievements.

“People have said the ‘keeper gave me a hand with that one, though I was just glad to get the ball on target and cause them some problems,” added the 25-year-old.

“It was nice to get on the score-sheet that day, but I just want to get the three points on Saturday -that’s the main aim.

“People have noticed this year with Norwich that we do work very, very hard and that’s the way the Club’s been built. The manager’s brought that a lot this year. It gets you results.”

The summer signing from Leeds is aware of Southampton’s strengths, highlighting Grant Holt’s former strike partner Rickie Lambert, who has found the net 12 times in the Premier League this season.

Yet he insists City will be going into the game believing they can earn all three points and pull themselves further away from the bottom three.

“Rickie Lambert’s very clinical, and he’ll take his chance if it comes so we’ll need to be on the ball and watch him,” he added.

“They’ve got some good players like (Adam) Lallana and (Gaston) Ramirez – but they’ve also got weaknesses and that’s why they’re at the bottom end of the table.

“We’ve approached every game believing we can win it, but at certain times against different opponents there are different tactics and strategies.

“It’s no different this Saturday though; we’re at home and we’re going to believe we can win the game.”

Snodgrass was boosted this week when he was, along with full-back Russell Martin, called up to the Scotland squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia, and he is excited about working under Gordon Strachan in a competitive environment.

“I thought Gordon was bringing different ideas to the way we’ve played under previous managers. He’s got different plans, as they all have,” he said.

“I’m happy to be part of that and hopefully I can continue to be in his plans and I can try and get minutes under my belt and help my country.”